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Falcons' decision could impact Commanders' coordinator search
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- Falcons' decision could impact Commanders' coordinator search
The Washington Commanders did the inevitable this week, firing defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. after a 5-12 season that saw head coach Dan Quinn strip Whitt of play-calling duties. Quinn shouldn't have any trouble landing a quality candidate, but the biggest question is whether he will hire someone he's worked with before or go outside of his comfort zone.
We looked at 10 potential candidates . One of those candidates, Jeff Ulbrich, is currently the Atlanta Falcons ' defensive coordinator. Ulbrich's situation is a bit complicated. The Falcons fired head coach Raheem Morris — another Quinn disciple and close friend. He, too, may be a candidate for Washington's defensive coordinator position, but is busy scheduling other head coaching interviews.
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The Commanders may not be the only team interested in Ulbrich. The Dallas Cowboys need a defensive coordinator, too. Dallas requested permission to interview Ulbrich but was denied, per ESPN's Todd Archer.
Atlanta owner Arthur Blank is reportedly a big fan of Ulbrich and will recommend him to the next head coach. So, if the Commanders put in a request slip to interview Ulbrich, they will also be denied.
Of all the potential candidates, Ulbrich and Morris stood out above the rest. Ulbrich first met Quinn in 2001, when Ulbrich was a linebacker for the San Francisco 49ers , while Quinn was a quality control assistant for two seasons before being promoted to defensive line coach. In total, Quinn spent four years as a coach on San Francisco's staff, while Ulbrich played there.
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Ulbrich immediately turned to coaching after his NFL career ended, and when Quinn landed his first head coaching job with the Falcons in 2015, he hired Ulbrich, who remained on Quinn's staff there for six seasons.
Atlanta blocking Ulbrich means Quinn would need to look elsewhere. With Ulbrich and Morris out of the running, at least temporarily, Al Harris could be the name to watch. Harris, who also has close ties to Quinn, is currently the Bears' passing game coordinator/secondary coach. Chicago is currently in the playoffs, and Quinn would need to wait to interview him. Harris could also be a contender for the Cowboys. However, he's never called plays before, and Quinn may look for more experience after having just fired Whitt.
We'll continue to monitor Washington's coordinator search, as the Commanders are also looking for a new offensive coordinator after parting ways with Kliff Kingsbury.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders: Falcons denied Cowboys' request regarding DC
